Europe 1 with AFP 6:34 p.m., August 09, 2022
A national tribute was paid Tuesday to the victims of the attack on rue des Rosiers, in the Jewish quarter of Paris 40 years ago, in the presence for the first time of a member of the government.
Present, the Minister of Justice Éric Dupond-Moretti acknowledged that "the thirst for justice felt by the victims has not been quenched".
For the first time, a member of the government, the Minister of Justice Éric Dupond-Moretti, attended a national tribute paid this Tuesday to the victims of the attack on rue des Rosiers, in the Jewish quarter of Paris there 40 years.
For his part, Emmanuel Macron tweeted: "On August 9, 1982, rue des Rosiers in Paris, the Jo Goldenberg restaurant was the target of an anti-Semitic attack. Six people died there. 22 were injured. 40 years later, we do not forget".
On August 9, 1982, rue des Rosiers in Paris, the Jo Goldenberg restaurant was the target of an anti-Semitic attack.
6 people died there.
22 are injured.
40 years later, we do not forget.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 9, 2022
An attack attributed to the Fatah-Revolutionary Council of Abu Nidal
A grenade explosion in the Jo Goldenberg restaurant was followed by a shooting in the historic Jewish quarter of the Marais.
The attack has since been attributed to Abu Nidal's Fatah-Revolutionary Council (Fatah-RC), a Palestinian dissident group from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
"The nightmare began on this disastrous day and never leaves me", testified during the ceremony Guy Ariel Benarousse, victim of the attack.
"A national tribute is good and you see me delighted. But it is time for my country France, and its government, to take its responsibilities, so that all those who participated in this heinous attack can appear before a judge," he said.
Very moved, the sister of André Hezkia Niego, victim of the attack, recounted the "deep pain" of her daily life since the loss of her big brother.
"The same questions remain: why this anti-Semitic act? Who are the terrorists? So many questions without real answers", regretted Jacqueline Niego.
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The words of Éric Dupond-Moretti, present at the tribute
Present at the tribute, the Minister of Justice Éric Dupond-Moretti acknowledged that "the victims' thirst for justice has not been quenched".
"I know that our justice, in connection with our diplomats, is extremely mobilized so that all the light is shed on this cowardly attack", specified Éric Dupond-Moretti.
“Forty years later, a sad observation is necessary: anti-Semitism, this filthy beast, is not dead; it crawls, more or less masked,” he said.
The Minister, as well as elected officials, ambassadors and representatives of Jewish institutions, then gathered in front of the commemorative plaque on rue des Rosiers, laying wreaths of flowers there, before observing a minute of silence.
The only suspect continues to claim his innocence
The only suspect in the hands of French justice, a 63-year-old naturalized Norwegian Palestinian, Walid Abdulrahman Abou Zayed, extradited in December 2020 by Norway, still maintains his innocence, his lawyers denouncing the search "for a culprit at all costs" .
French anti-terrorism judges suspect him of being one of the shooters.
They believe they have identified three other suspects, two located in Jordan, including the alleged mastermind of the attack, and a third in the West Bank, but Jordan has repeatedly refused their extradition.
“40 years after this anti-Semitic massacre, justice has not yet been done and those responsible are still at large. Let us never forget the ravages of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism,” tweeted LR deputy Eric Ciotti.
Heartfelt thoughts for the six victims of the attack on rue des Rosiers on August 9, 1982.
40 years after this anti-Semitic massacre, justice has not yet been done and those responsible are still at large.
Let us never forget the ravages of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.
pic.twitter.com/VpYzGhTSGR
— Eric Ciotti (@ECiotti) August 9, 2022
On the left, Senator Esther Benbassa deplored an act "unpunished to date", above a black and white photo of the famous restaurant after the attack.
#Commemoration.
Living not far from this old Jewish quarter, I think about it every time I pass by, especially on Sundays, when so many carefree passers-by walk there.
Forty years ago, rue des Rosiers, an anti-Semitic attack killed 6 people and injured 22.
Unpunished to this day.
pic.twitter.com/INLY5ImMLR
— Esther Benbassa (@EstherBenbassa) August 9, 2022